The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-02
A SURGEONS LIFE.
A Page from the Experience of Famous
Physician aud Surgeon.

A Page from the Experience of Famous
Physician and Surgeon.
From the Autobiography of the late DR.. Gross.
1 have always maintained that it is impossible
for any man to be great surgeon II he Is destl-
tute. even in a considerable degree of the finer
feelings of our nature. | have often lain ava Ike
for hours the night before important opera
ton, and suffered great mental distress for
days after 1t was over, until L was certain
that my patient was out of danger. | do not
think that it is possible for a criminal to feel
much worse the night before his execution than
a surgeon when he knows that upon his skill
and attention must depend the fate of valua-
BILE citizen. husband, father mother or child.
Surgery under circumstances Is a terribl
taskmaster, feeding like vulture upon mans
vitals. 1t is surprising that any surgeon in
large practice should ever attain to a respectable
old age. so great are the wear and tear of mind
and body
The world has seen many sad picture. I
will draw one of the surgeon. 1t is midday: the
sun is bright and beautiful; all nature is redo
lent of joy; men and women crowd the street.
arrayed in their best. and all. apparently, is
peace and happiness within and without. In
large house. almost overhanging this street SO
full OF life and gayety, lies upon a couch an
emacated figure. once one OF the sweetest
and lovelest of her sex. confding and
affectionate wife, and the adored mother of
numerous children, the subject of friehtful
disease or one of her limbs, or. it may be. of
her Jaw II not OF a still more important part of
her body. In an adjoining room is the surgeon,
with his assistants spreading out his instru-
meDts and getting things in readiness for the
appropriate place One administers choro-
form; another takes charge of the limb;
screws down the tourniQuet upon the principal
artery. and another holds himself in readiness
to follow the knife with his sponge. The flaps
soon formed, the bone severed. the vessels
tied. and the huge wound Appropriated. The
woman ia pale and CHASTITY, the pulse hardly
perceptible, the skin wet with clammy perspira-
ton. the voice husky. the sight indistincs. Some
one whispers into the ear or the busy surgeon,
1.-The patient. fear, is dying" Restoratives
are administered, the pulse gradually rises and
after a few hours of hard work and terrible anx
iety reaction occurs The poor woman was
ic. shock and loss of blood. An assistant. kind
of sentinel. is placed as a guard over her. with
instructions to watch her with the closest care
and to send word the moment the slightest
change for the worse ia perceived
The surgeon goes about his business, visits
other patients on the way. and at length. long
after the usual hour. he sits down. worried and
exhausted. to his cold and confortless meal.
with a mouth almost as dry and a voice husky
as his patients. He eats mechanically, ex-
changes hardly a word with any member of his
family. and sullenly retires to his study pre-
scribe for his patients-never. during all this
time, forgetting the poor mutilated object he left
a few hours ago. He is about to lie down to get
a moments repose after the severe toll of the
day, when suddenly he hears a loud ring of the
bell, and servant, breathless with
cltement begs his Immediate presence at the
sick chamber with the exclamation, '.They
think Mrs. - is dying" He hurres to the
scene with rapid pace and anxious feeling. The
stump Is or crimson color, and the patient lies
in profound swoon. An artery has suddenly
given way; the exhaustion is extreme; cordials
and stimuants are at once brought into requisi-
ton, the dressings are removed, and the rec
usant vessel is promptly secured.
The vital current Gibbs and flows reaction is
still more tardy than before. and 1t is not until
a late hour of the night that the surgeon, liter
ally worn out in mind and body. retires his
home in search of repose. Does he sleep2 He
tries. but he cannot close his eyes. His mind is
with his patient; he hears every footsep puon
hn md ap3 10
in momentary expectation of the ringing of
the night bell. He is disturbed by the widest
fancies. he sees the most terrible objects, and,
as he rises early In the morning to hasten to mis-
patients chamber, rs feels that ne has been
Gated of the rest of which he stood so much in
need Is this picture overd rawn? I have set
for it a thousand times, and there is not an edu-
Gated, conscientious surgeon that will not certify
to its accuracy.